Gas-regulator.



PATBNTED'rMAY-fi, 1903.

G. METZGER. GAS REGULATOR.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 14, 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

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WITNESSES BY v,- 5. I cute? WW,

ATTOR EY m: Nonms mans co., PHOYD LIYMO.. wmumcmau. by c.

PATEN'IED 5, 1903. G. METZGER. I GA-S REGULATOR.

APPLICATION rum) my 14, 1902.

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ATTORNEY :rzns ca, Puo'rautuq. WASHINGYON, 0. c4

No. 726,962. PATENTED MAY5',1903.

' G. .METZGER.

GAS REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

' PATENT OFFICE.

GAS-REG UILATO R.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 726,962, dated May 5, 1903. Application filed May 14, 1902. Serial No. 107,272. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, GUSTAV METZGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful In]- provements'irnGas-Regulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part'of this specification.

The present invention has reference to a novel construction of gas-regulating device .for automatically regulating the flow of carbonic-acid gas employed in the methods of carbonating liquids or for automatically increasing or decreasing the area of the gasoutlets for any other purposes where a regulating device of the character hereinafter .more fully described may be used with air, :gas, or any other medium to be maintained under pressure.

The primary object of the present invention is to produce a simply-constructed and efficiently-operating gas-regulator in which the use of valves and the consequent wearing out of valve-seats and the resultant leakage are avoided and entirely dispensed with; and the principal object of the presentinve'ntion is to providean automaticallyeoperating gas-regulator which is to take the place of the reducing-valves now used in connection with the methods employed for carbonating liquids, the device being of such a construction that there is a large outlet-opening and a straight flow for the liquid carbonic acid into a large chambered casing and that at all times during the use of the device while carbonating a liquid the freezing of the liquid carbonic acid, as heretofore, is entirely prevented.

My present invention, therefore, consists in the novel gas-regulator hereinafter fully set forth, and, furthermore, this invention consists in the various novel arrangements and combinations of devices and their parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and then finally embodied in the clauses of the-claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side or face View of a gas-regulatorembodying the various novel features of my present invention, and Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection taken on line 3 3 in said Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 4 4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section, on an enlarged scale, said view illustrating the general arrangement and construction of all the parts of the regulating device. Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-section, in detail, of the opening and closing means connected with a flexible outlet pipe or tube, illustrating the parts'in their normally inactive positions when the area across the said pipe or tube is not reduced; and Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same means, illustrating the members of said means in their clamping relation upon the said flexible tube, whereby the said tube is compressed and the outflow area of the tube is either reduced or entirely closed.

Similar characters of reference are em.- ployed in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

In the said drawings the reference character 1 indicates a suitable case or shell consisting, essentially, of a cylindrical or other suitably-shaped member 2, provided with a pair of marginal and oppositely-placed flanges 3 and -t,each shoulder having a series of screwholes 5. Resting directly upon the outer surfaces of said flanges 3 and 4:- are rubber or other suitable gaskets 6 and 7,and placed upon the gasket 6 is a flexible metallic disk or plate 8, and upon the gasket'7 is a flexible metallic disk or plate 9, both disks or plates being formed with suitable holes corresponding to the screw-holes 5 in the respective flanges 3 and 4 and being held in their secure positions by means of the respective rings 10 and 11 and the screws 12, as clearly illustrated in the several figures of the drawings. Each ring 10 and 11 is preferably provided with an annular marginal flange l3,extending at right angles to the flat surface of the ring, the said flanges l3 embracing portions of the flanges 3 and 4 and the marginal edges of the flexible metallic disks or plates 8 and 9 and the gasketsG and 7, substantially as illustrated in I Fig. 4 of the drawings, thereby providing a perfectly gas-tight chamber 14, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of said Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings, the said member 2 is provided in one side with a screw-threaded inlet and with an oppositely-placed screw-threaded outlet 16. Screwed into said inlet-opening 15 against a suitable shoulder 18 is a metallic pipe 17, having its inner end portion extending into the said chamber 14 to a point preferably near the center of said chamber. The outer end portion of said pipe 17 is made with a screw-thread 19 and a nut-shaped portion 20 for screwing the said pipe 17 into the opening 15 and tightly against its shoulder 18. The outer end portion of the said pipe 17 is also made with an internal screw-thread 21 and a cone-shaped seat 22, against which the end 24 of a flexible tube 23, of rubber or other similar material, is forced and held in place by a cone-shaped holding-plug 26, which is provided with a central duct or passage-way 27, when a perforated nut 28 is screwed upon said thread 21 and against the cone-shaped plug 26 to drive the cone end of said plug into the end 24 of the tube 23, and thereby firmlyclamp said end against displacement upon the cone-shaped seat 22,as will be clearly evident. The main portion of said flexible tube 23 is arranged within the rigid tube or pipe 17 and has its flexible end portion extending from the free end of said pipe 17 to a point beyond the centerof the chamber 14, as clearly illustrated. Suitably held against a shouldered portion 29 of said outer end portion of the pipe 17 by means of a union 32, which also holds a packing 31 in place, is a screw-threaded nipple 30, into which is tapped the supplypipe 33 for conducting the liquid carbonic acid into the flexible tube 23 to the chamber 14 of the device.

Suitably secured in the outlet-opening 16 of the member 2 is a tubular member 34, provided with a screw portion 35, onto which is screwed a union 36, having a packing 37 for the purpose of connecting the end 39' of a gas-receiving pipe 38 for conducting the expanded gas from the chamber 14.

Having th us described the general construction of the device 1 and the means for delivering the liquid carbonic acid into the chamber 14, as well as the means for conducting the expanded gas from said chamber, I will now endeavor to describe the novel arrangement and construction of clamping means arranged upon the projecting end portion 25 of the flexible tube 23 and the means of operatively connecting the said clamping means to the oppositely-placed flexible and resilient disks or plates 8 and 9 previously'mentioned. This clamping means is represented more particularly in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, and it consists, essentially, of a pair of bars or plates 39 and 40, the said bar 39 being provided with a screw-post 41, extending" through a central hole in the disk or plate 8 and through washers 42 and 43, arranged on opposite sides of the disk or plate 8 and held in place by means of a nut 44. In like manner the said bar or plate is provided with a screw-post 45, which extends through a central hole in the disk or plate 9 and through washers 46 and 47, arranged on opposite sides of the disk or plate 9 and held in place by means of a nut 48. The said bar or plate 39 is also provided with a pair of arms 49,to the ends of which is connected a bar or plate 50, said arms 49 being slidably arranged in and extending through openings 51 in a bar or plate 52, which is connected with the plate or bar 40 by means of a pair of arms 53, which arms 53 extend into and through openings 54 in the plate or bar and are slidably arranged in said openings 54. In this manner the said plates or bars 50 and 52 and the arms 49 and 53 are arranged outside of the end portion 25 of the flexible tubing 23 and act to compress said tubing and finally close the same when the two disks or plates 8 and 9 areexpanded in outward directions by the pressure of the gas admitted into the chamber 14. The contraction of the two plates or disks 8 and 9 to their initial normal positions will again move the bars or plates 50 and 52 away from their pressing contact with the flexible tubing, whereby the tubing again assumes its normally expanded condition (represented in Fig. 6 of the drawings) when the gas is being rapidly taken up by the liquid during the carbonating process. To regulate the clamping action of the movable members of said clamping means upon the flexible tubing and to maintain the expansive power of the disks or plates 8 and 9 at any degree, according to the pressure of the gas desired, say from five to eighteen hundred pounds, a pair of coiled springs 55 are placed on opposite sides of the disks or plates 8 and 9, at their centers, the said springs having their opposite ends arranged in suitable receiving-pockets 59 or othersuitable holding means, of a pair of bars 56, connected at their respective ends by means of links 57, each link having an adjusting-screw 58 for operatively connecting the said parts and also for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the tension and compressive power of said springs 55 according to the pressure to be carried in the regulating device. It will be understood that springs of different tensions maybe sub stituted from time to time, if desired, according to the pressure of gas in the chamber 14.

Having thus described the general construction of the regulating device embodying the'principles of my present invention, the operations of the opening and closing means connected with the flexible tubing 23 will be readily understood, the movements of the clamping parts being in proportion to the quantity of liquid carbonic acid admitted, which immediately expands into a gas in the chamber 14 of the device 1, to be taken up by the liquid to be carbonated, and if the gas is in excess of the desired pressure the disks or plates 8 and 9 will immediately act, and thereby cause the said opening and closing clamping means to regulate the supply of fresh liquid carbonic acid, or if such pressure of the generated gas is great entirely close the delivery-openingof the said flexible tubing 23.

From the above description of my invention it will be clearly evident that I have produced a simple and elflcient means for permitting a continuous supply of gas under constant pressure, which is very essential in carbonating liquids or for other purposes where a constant supply of air or gas is desired, and there being no valve and valveseat there can be no grinding or wearing out of such valve-seat and no leakage. Further-- more, the admission-opening being large and the liquid carbonic acid flowing in a straight course into a very large chamber 14 there will be no freezing of the carbonic acid, which usually renders the reducing-valves as now used inoperative for the purposes for which they are-intended.

The rigid pipe l7,which incloses the greater part of the flexible tubing 25, serves to retain said tubing in a straight line to produce a straight flow of the carbonic acid into the chamber 14, and, furthermore, this pipe 17 serves to protect the flexible tubing 25 against bursting from any great pressure generated from the carbonic-acid gas.

I am fully aware that changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the devices and their parts without departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do not limit myinvention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and their parts as set forth in the previous specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the exactdetails of the construction of the parts thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, an inlet, and an outlet connected with the said casing, a flexible tubing extending into the chamber of said casing, means inclosing the said flexible tubing to maintain the same in a straight line and against bursting, and means connected with said flexible tubing for compressing said tubing when the gaspressure increases and releasing the compression on said tubing when the gas-pressure decreases, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, an inlet and an outlet connected with the said casing, arigid pipe in said inlet extending into said casing, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straightline and against bursting, and means connected with said projecting portion of said flexible tubing for compressing said tubing When the gaspressure increases and releasing the compression on said tubing when the gas-pressure decreases, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, an inlet and an outlet connected with said casing, a rigid pipe in said inlet having a portion extending into the said casing, a receiving portion at the outer end of said pipe provided with a cone-shaped seat, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe within the casing, and having the other end of said flexible tubing arranged on said cone-shaped seat, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and against bursting,

means connected with said projecting portion of said flexible tubing for compressing said tubing when the gas-pressure increases, and releasing the compression on said tubing when the gas-pressure decreases, and means in the receiving portion of the outer end of said pipe, for forcing the end of said flexible tubing upon the said cone-shaped seat, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, an inlet and an outlet connected with said casing, a rigid pipe in said inlet having a portion extending into the said casing, a receiving portion at the outer end of said pipe provided with a cone-shaped seat, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe within the casing, and having the other end of said flexible tubing arranged on said cone-shaped seat, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and against bursting,

.means connected with said projecting portion of said flexible tubing for compressing said tubing when the gas-pressure increases, and releasing the compression on said tubing when the gas-pressure decreases, and means in the receiving portion of the outer end of said pipe, for forcing the end of said flexible tubing upon the said cone-shaped seat, consisting, essentially, of a cone-shaped holdingplug, and a nut adapted to be screwed into the said receiving portion of the said pipe and against the said cone-shaped plug, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, comprising a shell and oppositely-arranged flexible and resilient sides, and a flexible tubing extending into the chamber of said casing, means inclosing the said flexible tubing to maintain the same in a straight line and against bursting, and means connected with each flexible and resilient side and the said flexible tubing whereby the vibratory move ments of said sides will cause said flexible tubing to be compressed and distended, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, comprising a shell, and oppositely-arranged ing into the said casing, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting'from the end of said pipe, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and against bursting, and means connected with each flexible and resilient side and the said projecting portion of the said flexible tubing, whereby the vibratory movements of said sides will cause said flexibletubing to be compressed and distended, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

comprising,- a shell and oppositely-arranged flexible and resilient sides, a rigid pipe extending into the said casing, a receiving portion at the outer end of said pipe provided with a cone-shaped seat, a flexible tubing in said pipe havinga portion projecting from the end of said pipe within the casing, and having the othere'nd of said flexible tubing arranged on said cone-shaped seat, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and againstbursting, and means connected with each flexible and resilient side and the said flexible tubing whereby the vibratory movements of said sides will cause said flexible tubing to be compressed and distended, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

8. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, comprising, a shell and oppositely-arranged flexible and resilient sides, a rigid pipe extending into the said casing, a receiving portion at the outer end of said pipe provided with a cone-shaped seat, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe within the casing, and having the other end of said flexible tubing arranged in said cone-shaped seat, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and against bursting, and means con nected with each flexible and resilient side and the said flexible tubing whereby the vibratory movements of said sides will cause said flexible tubing to be compressed and distended, consisting, essentially, of a coneshaped holding-plug, and a nut adapted to be screwed into the said receiving portion of said pipe and against the said cone-shaped plug, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, an inlet and an outlet connected with the said casing, a flexible tubing extending into the said chamber of said casing, means inclosing the said flexible tubing to maintain the same in a straight line and against bursting, clamping-plates on opposite sides of the said tubing, slidably-arranged connecting-arms between said clamping-plates and means connected with the said arms for causing a clamping action of the said clamping-plates against the sides of the flexible tubing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, an inlet and an outlet connected with the said casing, a rigid pipe in said inlet extending into the said casing, a flexible tubing in said 'pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe, said rigid pipe'serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and against bursting, clam ping-plates on opposite sides of the said projecting portion of said flexible tubing, slidably-arranged connecting-arms between said clamping-plates, and means connected with said arms for causing a clamping action of the said clamping-plates against the sides of the flexible tubing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 7. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, j

I 11. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, an inlet and an outlet connected with said casing, a rigid pipe in said inlet having a portion extending into said casing, a receiving portion at the outer end of said pipe-provided with a cone shaped seat, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe within the casing, and having the other end of said flexible tubing arranged on said cone-shaped seat, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in astraight line and against bursting, clamping-plates on opposite sides of the said projecting portion of said flexible tubing, slid ably-arranged connecting-arms between said clamping-plates, means connected with said arms for causing a clamping action of the said clamping-plates against the sides of the flexible tubing, and means in the receiving portion of the outer end of said pipe for forcing the end of the said flexible tubing upon the said cone-shaped seat, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, an inlet and an outlet connected with said casing, a rigid pipe'in said inlet having a portion extending into said casing, a receiving portion at the outer end of said pipe provided with a cone-shaped seat, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe within the casing, and having the other end of said flexible tubing arranged on said cone-shaped seat, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing ina straight line and against burstiug,clamping-plates on opposite sides of the said'projecting portion of said flexible tubing, slidably-arranged connecting-arms between said clamping-plates, means connected with said arms for causing a clamping action of the said clamping-plates against the sides of the flexible tubing, and means in the receiving portion of the outer end of said pipe for forcing the end of the said flexible tubing upon the said cone-shaped seat, consisting, essentially, of a cone-shaped holding-plug and a nut adapted to be screwed into the said receiving portion of the said pipe and against the said cone-shaped plug, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, comprising, a shell and oppositely-arranged flexible and resilient sides, a flexible tubing extending into the chamber of said casing, means inclosing the said flexible tubing to maintain the same in a straight line and against bursting, clamping-plates on opposite sides of the said tubing, slidably-arranged connectingarms between the said clamping-plates, a second set of plates connected with the said arms, screw-posts on said second set of plates, and means for securing said screw-posts to said flexible and resilient sides, whereby the vibratory movements of said sides will cause a clamping action of the said clamping-plates upon the flexible tubing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. In a gas-regulator, a chambered casing, comprising, a shell and oppositely-arranged flexible and resilient sides, a rigid pipe extending into the said casing, a flexible tubing in said pipe haying a portion projecting from the end of said pipe, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and against bursting, clamping-plates on opposite sides of the said projecting portion of said flexible tubing, slidably-arranged connecting-arms between the said clampingplates, a second set of plates connected with said arms, screw-posts on said second set of plates, and means for securing said screwposts to said flexible and resilient sides,whereby the vibratory movements of said sides will cause a clamping action of the said clampingplates upon the flexible tubing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

15. The herein-described gasregulator, consisting, essentially, of a shell and oppositely-arranged flexible and resilient sides, a rigid pipe extending into the said casing, a receiving portion at the outer end of said pipe provided with a cone-shaped seat, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe within the casing, and having the otherend of said flexible tubing arranged on said cone-shaped seat, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and against bursting, clamping-plates on opposite sides of the said projecting portion of said flexible tubing, slidably-arranged connecting-arms between the said clamping-plates, a second set of plates connected with said arms, screwposts on said second set of plates, means for securing said screw-posts to said flexible and resilient sides, whereby the vibratory movements of said sides will cause a clamping action of the said clamping-plates upon the flexible tubing, and means in the receiving portion of the outer end of said pipe for forcing the end of the flexible tubing upon the said cone-shaped seat, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. The herein-described gas regulator, consisting, essentially, of a shell and oppositely-arranged flexible and resilient sides, a rigid pipe extending into the said casing, a receiving portion at the outer end of said pipe, provided with a cone-shaped seat, a flexible tubing in said pipe having a portion projecting from the end of said pipe within the casing and having the other end of said flexible tubing arranged on said cone-shaped seat, said rigid pipe serving to maintain the flexible tubing in a straight line and against bursting, clamping-plates on opposite sides of the said projecting portion of said flexible tubing, slidably-arranged connecting-arms between the said clamping-plates, a second set of plates connected with said arms, screwposts on said second set of plates, means for securing said screw-posts to said flexible and resilient sides, whereby the vibratory movements of said sides will cause a clamping action of the said clamping-plates upon the flexible tubing, and means in the receiving portion of the outer end of said pipe for forcing the end of the flexible tubing upon the said cone-shaped seat, consisting, essentially, of a cone-shaped holding-plug and a nut adapted to be. screwed into the said receiving portion of the saidpipe and against the said cone-shaped plug, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of May, 1902.

GUSTAV METZGER.

Witnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, GEo. D. RICHARDS. 

